This is one of those offers where you need to stop everything and act immediately, as it is very well could be the best Châteauneuf buy of 2018. Earning a banded score of 95 to 97 points from Jeb Dunnuck and at a market low price of $44.99, the 2016 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blockbuster value that every Rhône fan should own. As Dunnuck notes in his glowing review, this 2016 stands to be among the best ever from this legendary estate with a profile that echoes the legendary 1998 bottling “with its huge, full-bodied, unctuous texture.” As we (and the critics) have been saying, the 2016 vintage is off-the-hook, delivering spectacular wines that are on par with some of the best out of the Rhône Valley. The last vintage we’ve seen with such universal regard was 2010. Unlike the 2010s however, the 2016s are very attractively priced. By comparison, you’ll pay upwards of $70 for the 2010 Le Vieux Donjon - making the value here incontrovertible. Our pre-arrival price is super sharp, but given the sterling press and point, we expect any subsequent releases to see an increase. Now is definitely the time to secure this epic 2016, which is sure to provide profound drinking pleasure for the next 20-plus years.

95-97 points
Jeb Dunnuck:
"A wine thats going to be up with the finest vintage ever from this estate, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape (75% Grenache, 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, and the balance Cinsault) offers a southern Rhône smorgasbord of aromas and flavors including huge pepper, black raspberries, blackberries, new saddle leather and garrigue. Reminding me of the 1998 with its huge, full-bodied, unctuous texture and present tannin, its going to need 2-4 years of cellaring and keep for 15+." (10/2017)

94 points
Decanter:
"Fermented in concrete, then aged in foudre. No Cuvée Spéciale produced, just one wine. It's not terribly expressive on the nose at the moment. The palate is full and firm, a touch hard and tannic, though it should soften in time. Lovely weight and intensity though, showing real concentration and intensity of fruit, with a long finish. A muscular wine with real savoury thrust. Drinking Window 2020 - 2031. (MW)" (10/2017)

95-97 points
Jeb Dunnuck:
"A wine thats going to be up with the finest vintage ever from this estate, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape (75% Grenache, 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, and the balance Cinsault) offers a southern Rhône smorgasbord of aromas and flavors including huge pepper, black raspberries, blackberries, new saddle leather and garrigue. Reminding me of the 1998 with its huge, full-bodied, unctuous texture and present tannin, its going to need 2-4 years of cellaring and keep for 15+." (10/2017)

94 points
Decanter:
"Fermented in concrete, then aged in foudre. No Cuvée Spéciale produced, just one wine. It's not terribly expressive on the nose at the moment. The palate is full and firm, a touch hard and tannic, though it should soften in time. Lovely weight and intensity though, showing real concentration and intensity of fruit, with a long finish. A muscular wine with real savoury thrust. Drinking Window 2020 - 2031.(MW)" (10/2017)